Retinal Detachment model

Summary: Retinal detachment happens in AMD, Diabetic Retinopathy, and Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Model Description

The detachment of photoreceptors from retinal pigment epithelium is evident in various diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR) or retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Detached photoreceptors undergo cellular death, which subsequently leads to visual decline. Subretinal injection of sodium hyaluronate induces retinal detachment (RD) and photoreceptor cells death.1-3 

Animal speciesMice
Method of inductionSubretinal injection
Follow-up periodUp to 7 days
Route of compound administrationTopical (e.g. eye drops), subretinal, intravitreal, systemic
Read-outs1. In vivo imaging:
– Fundoscopy,
– Fluorescein angiography,
– Optical coherence tomography (OCT),
2. In vivo functional assessment,
3. Morphological assessment,
4. Molecular biology (ELISA, Western blotting, qPCR).

Outcomes and Read-Outs 

In vivo imaging

Experimentica uses state-of-the-art in vivo imaging methodologies, which allow the longitudinal evaluation of pathological changes. 

Fig. 1. Micrographs taken using SD-OCT at the level of optic nerve head (green line) before RD, immediately after RD and 7 days after RD.
Fig. 1. Micrographs taken using SD-OCT at the level of optic nerve head (green line) before RD, immediately after RD and 7 days after RD. Right column indicates volume intensity projections of fundus. Subretinal injection of Poly (I:C) successfully caused retinal detachment as verified by SD-OCT (Ragauskas et al., ARVO 2016 poster). 
Fig. 2. A mouse eye sectioned at the site of retinal detachment (asterisk). H&E staining.
Fig. 2. A mouse eye sectioned at the site of retinal detachment (asterisk). H&E staining. 

Authors' picture